Lotte Group pressed ahead with campaigns to increase presence in Vietnam despite a leadership vacuum caused by the jailing of chairman Shin Dong-bin for bribery in Korea.

On Thursday, the Korean conglomerate’s vice chairman Hwang Kag-gyu met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi to discuss further cooperation in business and investment projects across the Southeast Asian country.

Hwang called for the continuous support of the Vietnamese government for Lotte’s ongoing business activities and future projects, stressing that Lotte has regarded Vietnam as a key market and wants to become the country’s trustworthy partner, creating jobs and contributing to national economic development.

Lotte is seeking to build a large shopping complex and a residential district in Thu Thiem, Ho Chi Minh City. It also plans to build Lotte Mall Hanoi in the capital city.

Lotte entered the Vietnamese market in 1990 and has expanded its business with 16 subsidiaries and four factories, covering such areas as retail, services and construction. It has more than 11,000 employees in Vietnam.